But Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf told WCBS 880’s Rich Lamb that while Kelly would be a formidable candidate for mayor if he were to run, history shows GOP candidates only win when there’s a crisis.

“Kelly has always said that being mayor or running for mayor wasn’t in his DNA. Ray Kelly is a cop. Does he really want to subject himself to the slings and arrows?” Baruch College professor Doug Muzio told Lamb.

When it came to whether he would be open to staying on as the city’s top cop under the next mayor, Kelly left himself some wiggle room.